Sharon Rose Hill

I obtained my MSc and PhD in Neurosciences at the University of Toronto in 1996 and 2005, respectively. After postdocs in Rickard Ignell's lab at SLU and Bill Hansson's lab at the Max Planck Institute of Chemical Ecology, I obtained an Assistant Professorship at SLU and joined the Unit of Chemical Ecology at the Department of Plant Protection Biology. I became an Associate Professor in 2013 at SLU. 

As an academic researcher at SLU, my work is driven by a fundamental commitment to advancing SLU’s vision, “development for sustainable life,” within the fields of disease vector chemical ecology, ethology and evolution, by generating, developing and advocating for evidence-based solutions, in collaboration with society, to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

For more than 30 years, my research has explored how insects that transmit disease—particularly mosquitoes—use smell and taste to find the resources they need. By studying this chemical communication, my aim is to understand vector behaviour and use that knowledge to develop new ways of reducing disease transmission.

My research focuses on the chemical interactions between disease vectors, their hosts and their changing environment. I investigate how these interactions are regulated, both within the insect and by external factors, and how they can be harnessed to influence insect behaviour.

Since joining SLU in 2006, I have helped establish functional genomics as an important part of chemical ecology research at the Unit of Chemical Ecology. This approach allows us to connect particular sensory genes and receptors with behaviours such as finding, choosing and accepting a blood host. We have developed a versatile research workflow that combines chemical analysis, sensory biology, genetics and behavioural studies across several disease-vector species. It builds on Silverstein’s principles for identifying biologically active chemicals and extends them through modern functional-genomics methods.

Our initial work focused on the mosquito’s sense of smell. This research has led to the development of several synthetic odour blends that successfully attract mosquitoes in the field. One of these lures has been shown to help reduce malaria transmission in a rural setting by 60% (Debebe et al., 2024).

I am now extending the same approach to mosquito taste. By understanding how mosquitoes assess hosts and other resources through contact, we hope to uncover further opportunities to disrupt behaviours that contribute to the spread of disease.

PhD level
Neurobiologi av insekter (PSL0018) (in English) (course responsible; kontakta Sharon)
Ethics and Philosophy of Science (P000101) (in English) (course responsible)
How to write and publish a scientific paper (PLG0049) (in English)

Master's level
Elective course
Chemical Ecology for Sustainable Insect Pest Control (BI1346) (in English) (course responsible)

Associate professor (sv. docent)
2013

Courses in education
Teaching in higher education, basic course (3 weeks), 2011
Course in doctoral supervision (3 weeks), 2012
Project course, advanced course (4 weeks), 2012
Teaching in higher education, step 2 (2 weeks), 2013
Course in grading and assessment (3 days), 2017
Applied active e-learning (2 weeks), 2018
Supervisor training for experienced PhD supervisors (3 days), 2022

Current employment
Researcher in the chemical ecology of disease vectors, SLU, 2013-

Associate professor qualification (sv. docentur)
Associate professor in chemical ecology, SLU, 2013

Assistant professor
Assistant professor in chemical ecology, SLU, 2012

Postdocs
Max Planck Institute of Chemical Ecology, 2009-2010
Chemical ecology, SLU, 2006 

Postgraduate education
PhD in insect neuroscience and developmental biology, University of Toronto, Kanada, 2005
MSc in zoology, University of Toronto, Kanada, 1996

Undergraduate education
BA(h) in biology and English, Queen's University. Kanada, 1993

Click here for publication list.

SLU Future One Health
As a Hub Coordinator for the transdisciplinary research platform SLU Future One Health, I facilitate interactions among researchers working with human and animal health as connected with nature and environment. The goal is to broaden research networks, both internal and external to SLU, thereby strengthening One Health transdisciplinary research while contributing to science-based policymaking.

Research council funds
Main applicant
Formas
2021-01459     Mosquito taste space
2017-05536     Control drive: developing a delivery method for mosquito control agents

Vetenskapsrådet (VR)
2019-03926     Evolution of mosquito odour space
2017-05536     Assessing the risk of malaria mosquitoes by identifying the genetic basis of their host preference

Co-applicant
Formas
2022-01114     Mechanistic basis of mosquito detection of human odor

Vetenskapsrådet (VR)
2022-03779     Are divergent mosquito odorant receptors conserved behavioural regulators? 
2019-03732     Harnessing flowering plants for the control of malaria

Foundation funds
Main applicant
Carl Trygger Foundation
2019-CTS 19:141     MOSQUITO: Mosquito Odour Space Quantification Underpins Innovation of Tools for Odour-based control

Crafoord Foundation
2018-1048        Evolution of mosquito preference for humans
2017-0803        Evolution of mosquito preference for humans
2013-0783        Accept or reject – it’s a matter of taste
2012-0664        Accept or reject – it’s a matter of taste

Kungl. Vetenskapsakademien
2012-FOA11H -406     Bridging the gap between vector and non-vector with common scents
2007-     Like a moth to a vein: emergent haematophagy in vampire moths (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) 

Co-applicant
Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida)
2009-113     Chemo-ecological management of Anopheles arabiensis

EU funds and other international funds
Co-applicant
Max Planck Institute / Lund University / SLU
2020-2024     next Generation Insect Chemical Ecology, Max Planck Center

NATO
2021-2024     Novel compounds to limit mosquito-borne pathogens and associated infections in tropical and subtropical scenarios, University of Pavia/SLU

Other funds
Main applicant
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
2021-2023     SLU key personnel